His message had two main points: People don't necessarily love the big things in their communities, they love the small things that make them feel connected to people and place. And, it is the people who make a community vibrant.

Small towns and cities will never be able to compete with major cities in terms of sheer number of amenities. Play that numbers game and small places lose to big places every time. Simple fact. But lots of places can compete on the smaller scale, when the spotlight is taken off who has the biggest or the most of something and focuses instead on smaller places and services that provide connection, whether that's a piece of public art or a dog park.

Kalamazoo may not have the biggest museums in the world but that does not make the museums we have any less lovable — or remarkable.

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, you gotta love it. Why? Because the majority of its shows, from those curated by local staff or the touring shows that come in from those other museums are free for the public to enjoy. There is no entry fee to wander KIA's own collection of works on paper, its collection of Asian art or the delightful temporary photography exhibition "Elliot Erwitt: Dog Dogs" now in the main galleries.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, it's free too. But what is one of the most lovable features? It's not the solid hands-on science area, or the recently revamped local history rooms. The museum is home to a special area just for toddlers and preschoolers, where they can run around a miniature KVM and play with exhibits that are just their size.

It is the little things we remember about a place. Southwest Michigan abounds with small joys. Sure there are large festivals that anchor the downtown Kalamazoo in the summer, but memories are also made riding on top of the fire truck during Schoolcraft's Fourth of July celebration and trying the tethered hot air balloon at the Oshtemo Fun Day. There is a special thrill that comes from seeing your child's music teacher play with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra or seeing your child's art work displayed on the walls of the KIA galleries. Little things make a difference.

Kageyama also talks about the people who make a city. They are not just that elected official who can talk a mile a minute about anything or the one who Facebooks with abandon. They are the people who add personality to the places we hold dear. Kageyama calls them co-creators or anchor personas, people who bring color to the things they do, make things fun, put a creative twist on the "job." Downtown Kalamazoo has some excellent fine dining, but it's also nice to have Taco Bob remember you prefer extra tomatoes or to have Uncle David bring a surprise appetizer out to your table at Chinn Chinn in Mattawan.

There are people who write poems and novels about Southwest Michigan. They celebrate with adult playground dates. They build things. They make beer. They bake bread. They teach our children. They help others start businesses. They volunteer and get others to volunteer. They organize marathons. They give money to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation — everything from $9 million to $2.

People who love a place feel like they own it, it is theirs to raise up and to share. Creating a city that people love is important, Kageyama said, because when you love a place you find meaning in it and you commit to it.